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With SingStar finally approaching its release date on PS3, every other karaoke game is probably going to be deserted by wannabe singers. Being able to download one's favorite tracks from a list that in time promises to include dozens, if not hundreds, of choices is a luxury that will make players look at other titles as obsolete. Before Sony gives the finishing stroke to the previous installments of its own karaoke series, though, there's still time for some more action on PS2 with SingStar '80s and SingStar Amped. The first one is a tribute to the golden era of big hair and pop hits, while the second digs more specifically into hardcore rock music.

The only thing that Sony changed from previous installments in the series is the tracklist of the two games. Everything else, from the graphic interface to the gameplay, is exactly what we have seen in SingStar Rocks! and SingStar Pop, both released in the last twelve months. Same presentation with easy-to-navigate menus, same options for single- and multiplayer, same connectivity with the EyeToy camera: Sony didn't feel the need to change any of the features before the series' leap to the next generation.

The goal is, as usual, scoring the most points by matching the note bar that runs in the middle of the screen. If the note is sung too high or low, the player's bar (colored in blue or red depending on the chosen microphone) will act accordingly, rating the performance as "bad" or even "awful." The more "golden notes" players can match, the better their final score will be, until they eventually reach the status of SingStars.

The SingStar series is clearly designed to be enjoyed best in multiplayer mode. There are several options that allow groups spanning from two to eight players to take part in competitive or collaborative challenges. The two teams can compete in Battle, a one-against-one race for the maximum score; relax with Duet, a performance equally split between two players; or face the long Pass the Mic, a customizable set of eight different challenges. When there's a shortage of competitors, single players can still have fun with Freestyle, a mode that is specifically designed to be enjoyed without having to score points, or improve their skills on Easy, Medium or Hard difficulty level. Top 5 charts keep track of the best performances for every song and for every difficulty level.

Every song comes with its original video or, when not possible, with some live footage of the band, a feature that is even more valuable when it comes to SingStar '80s. It is always good to be reminded of Simon Le Bon's enormous shoulder pads or Flock of Seagulls' legendary hairstyles, not to mention Twisted Sister's outrageous outfits. SingStar '80s is a complete picture of the decade and the only missing hits are the ones included in previous installments, such as A-Ha's "Take on Me" and Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." There is a good selection of tracks by American bands -- Dexy's Midnight Runners' "Come on Eileen," Madonna's "Material Girl" and Soft Cell's "Tainted Love"-- as well as some unexpected European hits, such as Nena's "99 Red Balloons" and Europe's "Final Countdown." Pop is of course the best-represented genre, but there are also some good rock hits and even an occasional digression into rap with Run DMC's "It's Tricky."

SingStar '80s is an excellent example of how Sony's karaoke series can attract an audience of all ages. Its timeless hits are likely to be appreciated by casual gamers, as well as non-gaming passerby, and the original videos make the whole experience even more appealing. The only problem we noticed was a bad synchronization with the PS3: when we tried to play the game with it, our voice came out of the microphone a few seconds after the sound, resulting in an endless stream of "awful" scores. The game, though, works perfectly on PS2 and, with SingStar PS3 ready to be released, we don't feel like this is a big issue, since the new version will probably include many of the tracks from '80s as downloadable content. All told, it's a great package.